- CONTRIBUTED
Jean Watson (left) and Jose Maffessanti at her birthday party held at Boon Hall Oasis.Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
DEARS, IN a society where true and regal style is becoming an increasingly short commodity, where such style abounds, luvs, it is not only celebrated by all and sundry, it is also embraced by the style hungry!
Well my dears, in this respect, the charming husband and wife duo of Anthony and Jeanne Watson are not to the manor born, they are icons of fabulous style and exemplars of fine living!
To be sure, the Watsons belong to the very olde school, where etiquette and the social graces were habitués of the residence, not a very, very distant relative, that would pop in on the rare occasion. And it is this combination that adds to their élan and joie de vivre; their soirees, dinner parties, and cocktails, coveted affairs, especially by members of the leisure class.
VERY ACTIVE LIFE OF LEISURE
Heir to the Watsons OTB fortune and owners of the Plantation Hotel, over there in Ocho Rios (now The Royal Plantation), before off-loading it to the Delroy Lindsay Friends Group, for a reported pretty penny, the Watsons, who emigrated to Bermuda and only just returned to Jamaica, in recent years have retired to a very active life of leisure, which see them holidaying in St. Bart's or skiing in St. Moritz, when not at their St. Andrew condominium hosting their friends.
Now, despite their Bermudan sojourn, it is as if they never really left Jamaica, as since their return the Watsons have not only reclaimed their premier role as social denizens, they have been reordering the party mode and essence of snob-society, with their very fashionable affairs and spirited dos.
And so it was that when the invites went out along the boulevards of upper St. Andrew, inviting friends and relatives to join the Watsons and their offspring James at Boone Hall Estate, at the Stephen Jones-owned and operated restaurant for brunch, to mark Jeanne Watson's 62nd birthday, luvs, all bets were on that indeed, this would not be another run of the mill brunch, as indeed, Anthony and Jeanne Watson do not do ordinary!
Well dovecakes, if it was not clear via the Marilyn Monroe type invite, that indeed, brunch was to be a racy affair, there could be no mistaking it for those social bystanders who attended.
Dearhearts, it was a study in olde worlde elegance and then some!
Luvs, we are talking the well-to-do, the very chic, and plantocratic society at lunch here and then some, the glare of the mid-afternoon sun reflecting fabulously from stones adorning the faultlessly manicured hands and elegantly perched necks, while couture was definitely the preferred accoutrement, the colour turquoise definitely ruled!
Sweet-things, we are talking the leading citizens of this here society here and nothing but, as every which where one looked, one saw the rich, the wealthy, the pampered and the cultured.
SETTING THE STAGE
With the Mandela Performers, dancing and drumming their way into the hearts of guests, to open the festivities, and Christine Fisher's singing, the stage was set for an afternoon of superlatives. Dovecakes, they flowed, as with a Jamaican buffet, that was to die for, a bar that served up some fab concoctions as dearhearts, style and substance were of a premium here and nothing but! And as one guest opined: "since we must die, why not enjoy the gift of life at its very best"!
My dears, it was like that, and only got better and when the Mexican Ambassador raised the ante by taking the microphone and serenaded the birthday girl with the happy birthday chorus in Spanish, the august gathering burst into spontaneous and rapturous applause, which even got louder when the lovely Carole Issa Cartade gave her rendition of the happy birthday chorus a-la Marilyn Monroe!
But the piece de resistance dearhearts, was when Jeanne Watson presented the ladies with some absolutely fabulous floral bouquets on their departure. Luvs, it added just that touch of haute-style, that will long be remembered, and then some!
And as for the entire outing: Pumpkins, it was faultless!
Those sharing in the afternoon celebrations, included: James Watson; Spanish Ambassador HE Rafael and Lola Jover; French Ambassador HE Francis Hurtut; Mexican Ambassador HE Benito Andion and Evelyn Andion; wife of the German Ambassador Mrs. Harriett Huber; conglomateur, Lady Golding; Hon. Maurice and Valerie Facey; regional Mogul Desmond and Peggy Blades; Land Baron Alex Hamilton and Erica Downer; hotel tycoon Gordon 'Butch' Stewart; Edith Desnoes and daughters Mrs. Sheila Hart and Rosie McIver, and her hubby Dr. Cecil McIver; Peter and Joan McConnell; Earl Levy and wife Beverly Junor-Levy; John and Jill Andrews; Chris Bovell and wife Michelle; Mark and Diane McConnell; Robert MacMillan; Lee and Jane Issa, his sibling Paul Issa and wife Oriente Issa, also out; John and Jenny Greaves; Charles Hanna; Mrs. Barbara Henriques: Alma Vicens, daughter Amber Vicens-Stewart, also out; Dr. John and Paddy Masterton; Onesto and Josie Maffesanti of Ocho Rios; Robert Cartade and wife Carole Issa-Cartade; OK and Angela Melhado; Christopher Issa; Richard and Diana Stewart and her mom Jo-Page; George Fatta; Mrs. Jennifer Lim; Mrs. PJ Stewart; Capt. Mike and Thalia Lyn; Ian and Celia Levy; Mrs. Lorna Myers; Mrs. Janet Stewart; Desmond and Valerie Levy; Hugh and Margaret Croskery, their children Sarah and Mark.
Also out were: John and Betty Jo Desnoes; Peter and Annabella Proudlock; Phillip and Christine Gore; Joy Mahfood; Norman and Jean Wright; Herbert McDonald and wife Beth Hyde; Trevor and Margaret DeLeon; David Read; Joey and Asha Issa and Bobbie Stewart.
